Centre's fiscal deficit at 35% of budget estimates vs 115% a year ago

To be lower than budgeted 6.8%, say economists even when total expenditure is expected to exceed BE

India’s fiscal deficit for April-September period compressed to 35 per cent of the Budget Estimates (BE) from 115 per cent in the same period last year. This is even lower than the pre-Covid level (FY20) of Rs 6.5 trillion.

The government could limit the fiscal deficit to 4-year low to Rs 5.26 trillion mainly due to substantial 50 per cent revenue growth in September, benefitting from robust advance taxes and indirect taxes.

The Controller General of Accounts data showed the government received Rs 10.8 trillion (27.3 per cent of the corresponding BE 2021-22 of total receipts) up to September. This